Further Moves On Driving Fees?

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31765, 23 August 1968, Page 5

Further Moves On Driving Fees?

“The Press” Special Service INVERCARGILL. The question of the payment of driving fees to trotting trainers is certain to be brought up again after the charges heard against Southland horse-man-trainer, M. A. Skinner, during the week. Twice remits seeking driving fees for trainers has come before the annual meeting of delegates of the Trotting Conference and each time have been beaten, the first time narrowly and on the second occasion de- i cisively. Most of the charges preferred against Skinner were dismissed j because of a club error in mak-1 ing deductions from an open I cheque that had been lodged. j But in two cases Skinner was convicted without penalty. I These cases involved drivingl fees being deducted from open cheques owners had lodged on behalf of the horses Tasman and Flying Reel. It is understood that Skinner admitted to the tribunal • that by private agreement he I

was paid driving fees for horses he trained in partnership with his father, A. W. Skinner. Also submitted to the tribunal were declarations from 18 leading trainers, from Auckland to Canterbury, that they charged ••losing” driving fees for horses they trained. The fact that licensed trainers are able to contract outside the Rules of Trotting would indicate that a payment of driving fees to trainers is officially condoned. i The Invercargill case may ' have interesting repercussions. It will certainly be responsible j for a move to the next annual ; meeting of delegates to the Trotting Conference to bring ' within the Rules of Trotting a : payment of driving fees to i trainers, an arrangement now I widely practised outside the : Rules. With many owners paying driving fees to outside horsemen, the percentage of drivers ,not being paid—officially or ! otherwise—has certainly been Inarrowed down to a minority.